2.5\5 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC of The Stolen Kingdom.

A stand-alone fantasy! LOVED THAT. It is rare to find stand-alone’ s in this genre. However, this one unfortunately didn’t grasp me for a few reasons.

I found it was filled with tropes, including the MC’s, who are whisked into a political due to their magic. Classic rags-to-royalty type of trope where they become pawns and players in the game for the throne. Maralyth and Alac’s relationship is more Insta-love than enemies-to-lovers. The overall plot is straightforward and doesn’t really add any excitement for me, and romance’s can really make or break a story for me. While the MC’s had sweet moments, I just wasn’t invested in them together.

Because of the simplicity of the story, I wasn’t grasped. The writing also frustrated me at times. The worldbuilding was more telling than showing, and I felt it lacked for this fantasy possibly due to the constrained length. I liked the idea of it, but it may have been more impactful through a duology.

On the other hand, someone younger may really enjoy this, especially if they are new to fantasy. Also, if you like wine, this might be really fun for you. I certainly enjoyed the focus on winemaking and Mara’s magic helping the vineyard be successful. While The Stolen Kingdom didn’t work for me, I encourage others to give it a chance if you are newer to the genre.

I’ve started this book not expecting much but found myself pleasantly surprised at the way the author developed the story and characters.

Maralyth is confined to a girl’s duty with her family's but has bigger dreams. Unbeknownst to her she has magic that will change her world and the kingdom. Alan, second prince, gets entangled with the magic and attraction he feels for Maralyth.

I really enjoyed the way Alac and Maralyth interacted with each other. Somehow you envision the plot going one way but the author manages to end the book on a good note without the “they live happily forever”. Good page turner with few moments that were “O come on” but would recommend the book.

The Stolen Kingdom follows two teenagers, each with a birthright and each finding themselves pulled into a dangerous magical ploy.
-
I loved how this was a standalone fantasy! I feel like there should be more of them, and this was a fun short read! However, the length did cause some world building and character development to be underdeveloped.
-
The characters unfortunately fell into the same old YA tropes that we always see. Maralyth was “unlike other girls” and Alac was just annoying sometimes.
-
I loved the plot though, and I thought it was interesting how it had a secondary focus on wine making!
-
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Stolen Kingdom was a fast and exciting read for a snowy Saturday morning. I needed a little magic and Mara and Alac's fight for good over evil was exactly right. The story started a little slow for me, with trying to figure out the ins and outs of the world. But when the action started, it didn't stop. I liked thread of romance. I enjoyed the families and their history. But I do wish that I had FELT more for the characters and their relationship. This is one that I definitely think my teens would enjoy. Rounding up from 3.5

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor Forge for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
I'm so tired of being completely disappointed by books. This book had everything to be great - the cover is pretty, the plot sounded intriguing and the romance was supposed to be the best kind (*I have to kill you* enemies to lovers), but it wasn't.
Everything about this was lacking. The plot bored me, the characters had no depth and the romance lacked chemistry.
It wasn't super bad, but it wasn't good either, so overall 2.5 stars.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book would have worked better as a duology or a trilogy rather than a standalone - there is so much potential for the story to be really fleshed out, but in the standalone it just falls flat.

Mara is a winemaker's daughter with magic in her blood - magic that was stolen by the current king's ancestors. In the king, it's dark magic, but in Mara it brings life. Mara is kidnapped and used as a pawn to restore her bloodline to the throne. There's a love story between Mara and the prince Alac, a flight, a fight, and then the ending. I would have really enjoyed a story that spent more time on the magic, both the dark and the light. I would have liked to delve deeper into Mara's life and personality and the same with Alac. There are some secondary characters who are interesting and have a lot to offer to the story, but they are not developed.

This book was ok, but it could have been so much more.

This was a well written and developed book! I really liked the dual POV and the characters. Both were very likable and I cared about both of their stories. Maralyth’s magic was really intriguing. The idea of her having to hide this aspect of herself and not explore what she could do was well done. She was a loyal and strong hero.

I really enjoyed the book’s idea of stolen magic and the effect that would take. Alac was really likable too. I felt he was really well developed and realistic of a spare to the heir. I loved that the both of them had an interest in wines. I really enjoyed this book!

*I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Maralyth Graylaern grew up hiding the one thing that made her different; her magic. Mara realized at a young age she had the power to help the vines at her family's vineyard grow, but her mother forbid her from ever using her magic. In the Kingdom of Perin Faye, they believe that only the King's magic is genuine, and everyone else has stolen magic. This is a lie. Years ago, the Thungraves stole magic from the Dallowyn's, and stolen magic comes with a price. This dark magic enthralls each king in it's grip, making them want more. Alac Thungrave sees the hold this magic has on his father, and even his brother Cannon who is next in line to the throne. Alac wants nothing to do with the throne or the sinister magic that comes with it.

Mara is taken from the home she has known her whole life and brought to Nelgareth's manor. Nelgareth explains to her that her magic is only possible because of her secret bloodline, as a Dallowyn. Which means, she has a claim to the throne. Mara is forced into a plot to overtake the Thungrave's and place her on the throne. But Mara soon realizes Alac is nothing like the other Thungrave's. How can she possibly be okay with him being collateral damage?

I was not expecting this book to be so good. I had been in a bit of a fantasy slump and this definitely brought me out of it. The writing was amazing and the plot never dragged. I have never read a fantasy standalone prior to this one, and I was pleasantly surprised! I would definitely recommend this magical book to anyone. Also, I was happy to see another pair of starcrossed lovers. I never can get enough of this trope.

Hummm, well, this had such potential to be something amazing. The magic system was unique. Two wonderful main characters with point-of-views. A villain (or two) who could’ve been great. Lovable side characters.

Sadly, everything fell flat.

Several of the beginning chapters were nothing but politics and by the time I was 12 chapters in I just wanted the main characters Mara and Alac to meet. When they finally did the anticipation almost felt worth the build-up. Except the chemistry lacked sustenance. Don’t get me wrong, I thought they were adorable and their interactions were sweet. But I’m not much of a fan of insta-love romances and all that did was cheapen the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the storyline.

The climax...ugh. You can’t imagine how disappointed I was when the turning point of the book turned out to be anticlimatic. The villain’s death felt pointless and boring, as did the king’s death. After being absent for nearly 3/4 of the book I thought we would’ve gotten a chance to see just how horrible Alac’s father was since everyone feared him—nothing. Nada. Not even an epic battle of two sorcerers fighting over the throne. Even the romance felt weak as there was hardly any chapters left after the betrayal for Alac to rebuild his trust in Mara. I thought there was no way he could forgive her so easily after playing a hand in his family’s murder.

Welp, I was wrong again. By the time their romance rekindled in the end I didn’t care. I think this should’ve been a duology and would’ve benefited greatly with better fleshed-out characters and world building than as a standalone.

**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the classic YA book with the same old tropes, lack of worldbuilding and bland characters.
Maybe young readers or someone who's approaching this genre for the first time could enjoy it more than me.

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme is an upcoming standalone fantasy novel centering around a lowly winemaker’s daughter who, under unbelievable circumstances, finds out that she’s the long lost heir to a stolen kingdom; the magic she’s kept secret her entire life is evidence of just that. Wrapped up in a plot to steal back the long lost throne, it gets harder and harder for her to keep the familial magic secret -- especially once she meets the prince she has to destroy to become queen. Magic, both dark and light, and royalty, both bad and good, and a hint of wine love weave this tale together.

This was a cute, quick fantasy read! The plot is original and engaging, and the two different kinds of magic are quite interesting in the little glimpses we get. Mara’s journey from winemaker’s daughter to undercover ward to eventual royalty is intriguing, her growing strength and confidence a lovely nod to your classic coming-of-age story. The contrast of blood magic versus life magic is very clear, and the times the two interact are certainly memorable.

We do have a bit of a case of insta love here between Mara and Alac, the prince’s son. If it weren’t for circumstances throwing them together, this is not a pairing that I can see clicking -- except for their mutual love of wine, a trait that is hammered into readers’ brains. I would’ve much preferred if their relationship had started -- and remained -- strictly a platonic one, especially since it reads as such when you ignore the way each is captivated by the other's supposed beauty.

It’s always nice to find a standalone fantasy novel that wraps up all loose ends and still gives a satisfying end to the story. I did feel like there was a whole other world outside the main characters that is hinted at but we’re never shown; this is definitely a novel that could have done with an extra hundred pages or so, simply for the realm -- and the rules of the magic -- to be expanded upon. The potential is limitless with the few details the author did share.

Overall, a charming and magical installment, and a lighter take on epic fantasy than I’ve encountered in recent years, something I really do appreciate. I’d recommend to any fantasy fans looking for a reprieve from your average heavy emotional tome; this read will satisfy the magical craving without casting an unbreakable spell on your person.

DNF at 43%

I read one more chapter and I just can't anymore. The big problem I have about these long lost descendants being pushed to assume the throne is what about them when found makes them a good candidate for the throne? Our main character has little to no real training on how to speak, act, behave as a royal and constantly makes mistakes that would have been fixed if she had this beforehand. But this higher class she interacts somehow doesn't find anything wrong with this?!

A lot of illogical instances like this had me so upset. Not to mention when our main character KNOW she should not use magic but CONSTANTLY does and is like "oops" and gets in trouble for it. Makes me gnash my teeth. The final chapter I read (21) has the other pov, Alac or something, just right off tell her about his magical lockbox when he finds out she can do magic. Like WHAT? This is supposed to be some deep, dark secret of the family but he goes and blabs it all off to a stranger he only knew for maybe a few weeks at most? No, no, no.

I bet they'll become a romance pairing and I can't. There is no chemistry between them. She always wants to run away and flinches from their interactions while he constantly seeks her out and engages her which she isn't receptive to receiving.

I want to persevere but I am unwilling because I'm in a reading slump and don't want to make it worst.

It's so rare to have a stand-alone fantasy book nowadays, so I jumped at the chance to read The Stolen Kingdom.

I felt like the magic and plot of the book as a whole were extremely well written and overall this book was enjoyable. The book was extremely fast paced, and while I would have loved a little more character development, it was still a good read. I wasn't too fond of the romance, and it seemed a bit more younger audience focused compared to more YA/New Adult type fantasy that is pretty common.

It was a solid 3.5 for me!

Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for providing the ARC of this book.

honestly, i’m not totally sure how to feel about this book. it was a great plot and almost reminiscent of Kingdom of the Wicked and City of Brass in terms of how vast and sprawling this standalone was. it delist everything The Shadows Between Us was trying to be. but it was underdeveloped. there was so many scenes that were rushed — imagine you’re kidnapped and told you’re going to be queen after the king and two princes are murdered, when yesterday you were about to launch a small business. you’d probably be in utter shock and dis eloped. the MC was like “oh... okay!” and decided to be queen. there were a lot of rushed scenes like that that i wish had been fleshed out more because this easily could’ve been five stars. i was actually invested though and read to the end bc i enjoyed it. so 3 stars all around

I was NOT expecting this book to be so good.

It started a hair too slow for my liking, but after completing the book it became clear that the beginning chapters were vital: with the acknowledgment of Mara's mom, the vineyard, etc. Then after the first few chapters, it was just a never-ending rollercoaster of events.

The Stolen Kingdom was unlike many stand-alone books that I have read, and I feel as though I have read quite a few stand-alones.

Looking back on this book, it reminds me of the dark magic in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas but instead of stretching the span of eight books, it was wrapped into one. Obviously, there are significant differences between both the Throne of Glass series and The Stolen Kingdom, but I cannot help but notice the similarities: two women determined to right the wrongs that have been done to their kingdom, both of whom have magical abilities; Kings driven by dark magic (unknowingly against their will); princes struggling to correct their fathers' wrongdoings; and the prince's dutiful guard/best friend.

As for the romance factor, there was hardly any. But truthfully, the book kept at such a steady pace you hardly noticed or missed the lack of romance. Any romance that was there was very PG.

Boehme did an exceptional job at creating a rollercoaster of events. First, you have the kidnapping, then you have the plot twist that a vintner's daughter is the last missing Dallowyn heir, then Boehme throws in sweetheart Prince Alac who deserves all good things in the world.

Overall I quite enjoyed it. It was the quickest read I had this month. My only complaint is that every chapter flips back and forth between Mara's perspective and Alac's perspective. Meaning chapter one is Mara's point of view and then chapter two is Alac's point of view. Although I do not prefer when authors take this route, it was not a deal-breaker for a few reasons. The first reason being when Mara and Alac are apart it gives the reader the opportunity to see what is going on at any given moment. Whether it's at the vineyard, in Silverton, or at the royal palace. Which I feel allows the book to continue progressing forward at a steady rate without too many slow spots. The second being you learn how little Alac knows what is unfolding around him and how much the coup is killing Mara, simultaneously. The third being the obvious point: you know how both characters feel about each other.

For the most part, I enjoyed the writing style, the characters, the plot, and the concept of how the magic was originally stolen and how they ultimately were able to get it back to the rightful heir. I do plan on buying the physical copy of the book once published.

DNF. I struggled with this one. The POVs were indistinguishable in spite of name headings, and the characters felt flat and unengaging. The world also didn’t feel well realized.

The Stolen Kingdom has to be my favourite fantasy read of 2021! The way the Jillian Boehme was able to capture her characters and the world that she created is phenomenal! I was able to be fully immersed in Perin Faye! I cannot wait to read more of Jillians work and I am super excited to purchase multiple copies for everyone I know :)

Full review to come after publication date :)

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme is a refreshing standalone fantasy. Maralyth is a vintner's daughter, who has hidden magic that only the king should be able to possess. When she finds out that her magical abilities are proof of being the rightful heir of the throne, she is entangled in a plot to murder the royal family and claim the throne.

This was a fun quick read with action and adventure, and what I loved most about this book is that it was a standalone. The story wrapped up nicely and I enjoyed reading Maralyth and Alec's points of view. This is a great book for anyone who loves a YA fantasy book with forbidden romance and a unique magic system.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

A standalone fantasy novel featuring magic, sorcery, kidnapping and espionage. The story is told from the two perspectives of Mara and Alac. An interesting tale

3,5 stars ⭐️

The Stolen Kingdom was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and having the chance to read it sooner was just great. This is an amazing standalone fantasy book that gave me more than what I was expecting and something I really liked was the magic system since it was very intriguing and unique, and i can't say I didn't have a great time while reading this, it was a quick, fun, and enjoyable read.

I definitely recommend this to all the people out there that love a fantasy book with forbidden romance, amazing world-building, a great plot, an unique magic system and so much more, plus this is a standalone, have we seen many good standalone fantasy books out there? they are rare. I am definitely going to be re-reading this once I get myself a finished copy!

oh, and the cover? love it.